burneam



3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

N, P. BURNHAM. `TURBINB WHEEL.

Patented Mar. 27,1883.

JNVENToJ:

Wai/um. 'ur/a/uL/n B1.; his .Htto'rneys WUWESSEHB (No Model.) SSheets-Sheet 3.

N. P. BURNHAM.

l TURBINE WHEEL. `l\To.` 2'74,884. l Patented. Mar. 27, 1883.

WITNESS@ JYcothanfFwr/dzam d' By 21115' attorneys i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN F. BURNHAh/I, OF YORK,PENNSYLVANIA.

TURBINE WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Il etters PatentlNo. 274,884, dated March 27, 1883.

To all whom it ,may concern:

Be it known that I, `NATHAN F. BURNHAM,

ot" York, in the county ot' York and State of.

Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine Wheels, of which the following is a specification, when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a vertical centraisection ot" a turbine-wheel case, drawn on line l l of Fig. 2,

embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a segment showing the gates closed. Fig. 5 is the same showingthe gates slightly opened, and Fig. 6 the same showing the gates a little `farther open.

The object ot' one part ot my invention is to provide for smoothly admitting the water between the gates from without and smoothly delivering it to the wheel after it has passedV the gates, so as to avoid any obstruction or break in the current, and to get its' full momentum to bear upon the wheel y according to the quantity that is admitted by opening the gates more or less.

The object otl the other part of my invention is to provide for sustaining and centering the inner rings orvmovable part ot thecasing which is operated to open or close the gates.

The drawings do not illustrate the wheel proper, as that is not necessary.

Referring tothe letters upon thedrawin gs, Aindicates the upper and lower xed rings ot' the outside of the casing, which are connected by means of the posts B, shaped as shown in cross-section in Fig. 2. To these posts B are secured the curved plates C, beveled, as at D,

upon their eXtreme inner ends.

E E indicate the inner movable rings, whichare connected by means of the posts F. shaped as shown in crosssection in Fig. 2. To these posts F are secured the plates or gates Gr, curved slightly at their outer ends, as shown iu Fig. 2.

At H is shown a rack and pinion for moving the inner rings to open and close the gates. The inner rings are supported by means of segmental plates or brackets I, bolted to the upper movable ring and bearing upon an annular ledge, K, of theupper fixed ring of the casing. The segmental brackets are provided are' provided.

Application filed December 7, 1882. (No model.)

with friction or guide wheels L, which serve to center the inner rings within the outer rings, so that the former may bemoved sufficiently to open and close the gates with minimum re# and to the full lines iu Figs. 4, 5, and 6, it will beseen that the gates may all be closed tightly or opened widely as the full lines illustrate them; butit' the gates are opened at all, no matter how little or how much, there is a large bellmouthed opening on the outside to admit water, and a slightly flaring opening from within, like that of a hose-nozzle, todeliver the water from its passage through the gate-openings directly to the wheel. The result of this constructionis, that the form in cross-section of the column of water `entering through the` gatcopenings and impinging against the wheel within is always the same, its dimensions only differing as the gates are opened more or less; also, that there is no impediment or breakin the intlowing current, no matter whether the gates he opened much 0r little, and also that both a funnel-opening for receiving thewater into the gate-passage and a bell-mouthed or nozzle-mouthed delivery structure for directing the water to the wheel These features of construction utilize the utmost torce ofthe water at all times and deliver a smooth, unbroken column of water through each gate-passage, of much or little volume, according to the extent to which the gates are opened.v

Having thus described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the outer tixed rings, A, ot' the posts B and inwardly-project` ingpplates C, so placed relatively to the posts F as to leave a bell-mouthed opening, subf stantially as described.

2. The combination, with the upper and lower movable rings, of the gate-posts F and IOO theoutwardly-projectingplatesorgates,curved brackets I, of the guide-wheels L, and an anor Haring at their outer ends, substantially as nular ledge, K, substantially as and for the described. purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the outer xed In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- 5 and inner movable rings and their posts B and scribed my name this 5th day of' November, 15

F, ofthe plates C and G, all constructed and A. D. 1882.

arranged substantially as and for the pnri NATHAN F. BURNHAM. poses set forth. Witnesses:

4. The combination, with the outer structure WALTER B. WHITE, ro of the case, ofthe movable inner rings, ofthe WM. BEITZEL. 

